MIAMI – John Franco reads the papers, and he laughs about how he’s often characterized as in cahoots with the Wilpon family. It’s especially ironic to Franco considering the Mets haven’t addressed him about signing a contract for next season.

“I’m the stepson now,” Franco chuckled yesterday. “I guess I wasn’t the adopted son the last 12 years, but the last two years I’ve become the adopted son.”

The 43-year-old pending free agent tried to down-play any anxiety about the future while finishing out his $3.75 million contract, but it’s clear he’s reaching a crossroads. Art Howe was mum on the subject of Franco before last night’s 4-3 loss to the Marlins.

“I plan on talking to most of the guys,” Howe said when asked specifically about Franco. “You have to look at the whole picture. I can’t speak for next year yet. That’s way too far in advance.”

Franco said that’s not out of the ordinary, defending the Mets and the Wilpons.

“Sometimes you have to separate friendship and business,” Franco said.

If the Mets don’t re-sign Franco, he won’t turn his back on the organization.

“I owe a lot to the Wilpons and [former co-owner Nelson] Doubleday to put me in a position where I’ve come home and played for 14 years,” he said. “I didn’t have to uproot my family. So for me cutting ties would be stupid.”

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Cliff Floyd reconnected with his former teammates and current teammates before the game. He’s working out six days a week following heel surgery . . . Jeremy Griffiths will pitch tomorrow instead of Al Leiter.

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After Mike Piazza and his radio DJ friend Eddie Trunk played some unauthorized Guns N’ Roses a few weeks back, the group quickly gave them a cease-and-desist order.

Piazza, who received the yet-unreleased song “I.R.S.” anonymously through the mail, expressed sincere regret that the song was probably pirated. He said he understands musicians’ rights, but couldn’t resist returning fire at Axl Rose, who posted a short creed on his website that said he was a Yankee fan who supported Roger Clemens.

“That’s disappointing. It shows you how out of touch he is,” Piazza quipped.